Written question asked by Marquess of Lothian (Conservative) on Thursday, 8 July 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 July 2004. It was answered by Jack Straw (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 July 2004 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department is monitoring the number of persons moving over the border from Iran into Iraq; what assessment he has made of the purposes of their migration; and what representations he has made to the Iranian Government concerning this issue.

Answer: Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department is monitoring the number of persons moving over the border from Iran into Iraq; what assessment he has made of the purposes of their migration; and what representations he has made to the Iranian Government concerning this issue. [183816] Mr. Straw: The Iraqi Interim Government is responsible for Iraq's border security and has announced that it will use advanced technology to intercept terrorists, smugglers, illegal immigrants and contraband. We are working to help the Iraqis with this. Migration between Iran and Iraq is a bilateral matter for those two countries. But we have made very clear to the Iranian authorities that we expect them not to take actions that would undermine Iraq's stability.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 183816; 423 c1183W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Borders Immigration controls Iraq Monitoring Migration Security Iran
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk